European Coordination for Foreigners Right to Family
Life
Coordination Européenne pour le Droit des Etrangers à
vivre en Famille

PRESS RELEASE

"The European Coordination for Foreigners' Right to Family
Life, meeting in General Assembly in Paris on 28 February and
1 March, learned of the political agreement reached by the fifteen
European Union member states on the proposed directive concerning
family reunification for third-country nationals.

We are surprised and dismayed that this is presented as an
accomplishment when the European Parliament, the only democratically
elected European organ, has not yet made its declaration on the
matter; it is scheduled to do so shortly.

The European Coordination deplores the extent to which the
ministers of the "Justice and Home Affairs" Council
not only disregarded the opinion of the major representative
organizations for immigrants' rights but also scorned the role
of the European Parliament.

We of the European Coordination repeat our opposition to the
measures of this directive, which has been officially presented
as an outstanding political instrument for integration. In fact,
it denies the fundamental principles in the European Convention
for the Protection of Human Rights and in the International Convention
on the Rights of the Child.

We consider that the right to family life is an inalienable
right that should not be subordinated to policies controlling
the flow of immigration.

More than ever, the European Coordination intends to pursue
our action appealing for the European institutions (Commission,
Parliament) as well as the member States to respect this fundamental
right.

Paris, 1 March 2003"

The European Coordination regroups about 40 associations,
organisations and networks from 5 EU countries. It is in contact
with more than 2000 associations and organisations in the 15
EU countries.

For more information, please write to coordeurop.campagne@libero.it
(English, French or Italian).